Five years have flown by since our last visit to Emily and Todd’s home, a lively space bustling with three children and a cherished family dog. We’re thrilled to revisit this dynamic family home, which has evolved beautifully over half a decade, now showcasing even more completed rooms and ingenious design solutions. This isn’t just a house; it’s a testament to creating a stylish, modern dwelling that withstands the rigors of family life without sacrificing an ounce of charm or practicality. Prepare to be inspired by a home that truly lives and breathes with its occupants.
The first thing that greets you, and always brings a smile to our faces, is their vibrant front door, painted in Martha Stewart’s “Cornichon.” It sets an inviting tone, hinting at the warmth and personality within. Emily and Todd, along with their three kids – a four-year-old, a tween, and a teen – and their sizable pooch, Tuck, truly embody the spirit of this hardworking house. Every corner reflects thoughtful design tailored for an active family, proving that elegance and everyday living can coexist seamlessly.
What makes their home truly remarkable is its welcoming atmosphere. Despite its clean and modern aesthetic, it never feels too precious. Visitors often express disbelief, asking, “Three kids and a big dog live here?!” This is the magic Emily has mastered, employing several clever design tricks that we’re excited to share. Much like us, Emily is a savvy shopper, adept at finding treasures at thrift stores and yard sales, incorporating beloved hand-me-downs, and sourcing stylish yet affordable pieces from retailers like Ikea and HomeGoods. This blend of high-low decor creates a unique and attainable look.
Designing for Life: Practicality Meets Modern Elegance
Their dining area perfectly illustrates this philosophy. The rustic dining table was a fantastic yard sale score, the comfortable ottoman hails from HomeGoods, and the durable rug was a Marshall’s find. While budgeting is key, they also believe in splurging on foundational pieces when it makes sense. Their Crate & Barrel sofa, for example, was a carefully considered investment, saved up for over several years while they comfortably used an old hand-me-down couch. This patient approach allows for high-quality items that truly elevate their space.
The house itself, designed by Emily and Todd (with Todd’s photographer’s eye ensuring an abundance of natural light), boasts a simple, clutter-free aesthetic. It’s truly one of those “everything we need and nothing extra” homes that deeply inspires. This minimalist approach not only enhances the sunny and airy feel but also serves a practical purpose: fewer tchotchkes mean less dusting and cleaning, a major win for any busy family. Moreover, the lack of delicate decor makes it inherently kid and dog-friendly, reducing worries about accidental breakages.
A closer look at the dining area reveals furniture choices that are explicitly practical for a household with children and pets. The West Elm chairs are crafted from wood, eliminating concerns about upholstered seats and potential stains. The rustic, aged quality of the dining table means that accidental dings, like those from a child repeatedly banging it with a metal car, simply blend into its charming character. We particularly admire the thoughtful mix-and-match aesthetic: light wood end chairs, deep red side chairs, and a medium wood table. This unfussy combination exudes an informal elegance that feels welcoming and lived-in.
Beyond the functional furniture, the light fixtures throughout their home add an unexpected layer of stunning glamour, especially striking in person. The “sputnik” chandelier above the dining table, a fantastic secondhand find from eBay, exemplifies this. Since these fixtures are safely out of reach for kids and pets, they offer a brilliant way to introduce a touch of sophisticated sparkle without fear of breakage, proving that even a busy family home can incorporate delicate, eye-catching elements.
Emily’s Top Design Hacks for a Family-Friendly Home:
- Patterned Rugs for Stain Camouflage: A bold, patterned rug is a superhero in disguising everyday spills and stains, keeping your living spaces looking fresh and clean even between deep cleans.
- Wipeable Furniture for Easy Maintenance: Opt for furniture pieces like chairs, sofas, or ottomans covered in leather or leather-like materials. These are incredibly easy to wipe down and often develop a beautiful patina over time, looking even better with a bit of wear and tear.
- White Walls for an Airy Feel: White walls are a timeless choice that makes any room feel clean, bright, and expansive, even when there’s a bit of dust or vacuuming pending. Emily’s secret weapon for wall marks? A Magic Eraser, keeping her walls pristine effortlessly.
- Washable Sofa Covers for Protection: If you love the look of a white sofa but dread the mess, simply cover it with a white, washable blanket when messy kids are around. Because it matches the sofa’s color, it blends seamlessly, providing protection without screaming “blanket-covered couch!”
The Heart of the Home: A Unique Kitchen Perspective
We often receive requests to feature kitchens that break away from the prevalent white-cabinet trend, and Emily and Todd’s kitchen delivers beautifully. It’s a refreshing sight, complete with warm, rich wood cabinets that provide a grounding, natural feel to the space.
One of their most striking and unusually modern choices for a new construction home was opting for sleek white appliances over the more common stainless steel. We consistently marvel at their pristine appearance in person. These Jenn Air series appliances have not only maintained their clean, contemporary look over the past five years but have also performed flawlessly, proving that white appliances are far from outdated. The practical island is an Ikea find, perfectly complemented by stylish stools from West Elm, creating a functional and aesthetically pleasing central hub.
Adjacent to the fridge, a brilliant white pantry offers incredible functionality. We first highlighted its innovative design during our initial house visit: it pulls out and is fully accessible from both sides, maximizing storage and convenience. Its dual-sided access is a game-changer for organization, allowing for seamless retrieval of items whether you’re working at the counter or accessing from another angle. It’s a design feature we’ve adored for years and continue to praise for its sheer genius.
Personalized Havens: Colorful Kids’ Rooms
While the main floor exudes an airy, light aesthetic, the kids’ rooms burst with vibrant color and personality, offering personalized retreats. Twelve-year-old Olivia’s room is a perfect example, showcasing Emily’s creative touches like no-sew curtains, expertly crafted using the reliable hem-tape method. We also had the pleasure of contributing to her space, creating the upholstered headboard, and Emily transformed an ordinary dresser with a fresh coat of pink paint. The walls, painted in Valspar’s “Lazy Days,” provide a calming backdrop for these cheerful elements.
The bold patterned curtains are a true highlight, adding a playful energy to the room. We also appreciate Emily’s ingenious use of space, hanging hooks behind the door for bags, a simple yet effective way to add functionality without clutter. For those curious about the fabric, Emily sourced it from a local Richmond store called Williams & Sherrill.
Speaking of ingenious functionality, above the sleek built-in mirrored wardrobe from Ikea (a modern alternative to traditional closets), Emily and Todd had their builder incorporate a clever niche. This design choice maximizes storage, offering a perfect spot for colorful bedding and organized bins, squeezing out every last bit of usable space. And those charming retro-inspired prints adorning the wall? We created those for our print shop about four years ago and gifted a set to Olivia. It’s truly heartwarming to see them still proudly displayed in her room all these years later, a sweet reminder of shared history.
Here’s another view of the upholstered headboard we crafted, paired with a pink painted desk. Emily smartly topped the desk with an affordable sheet of acrylic, a brilliant protective measure to ensure its longevity. This simple addition safeguards the surface from wear and tear, making it a truly durable workspace for a busy tween.
Fourteen-year-old Jake desired a more subdued room, yet it perfectly captures his personality. The plaid bedding creates a cozy, masculine feel, while a bold blue accent wall is cleverly paired with a red side table. Notably, the side table is stained rather than painted, giving it a unique transparent quality that adds depth. The basketballs hanging directly on the wall are not just decorative; Jake actively uses them, integrating his passions directly into his personal space, reflecting an authentic teen vibe.
We also adore the graffiti-style monster print from Ikea, an older find that adds a touch of playful edginess. However, our absolute favorite elements in Jake’s room are the vibrant yellow safe and the classic red gumball machine. These nostalgic pieces instantly transport us back to our own teenage years – who didn’t have something similar? (Though my safe was purple!). They add a wonderful, quirky charm that truly personalizes the space.
The Ultimate Play Zone: Basement Rec Room
Their basement rec room is an absolute lifesaver, especially when the kids have friends over, providing ample space for play and relaxation. Embracing their love for white, Emily and Todd opted to paint the concrete floors with a glossy, wipeable floor paint – a genius move for high-traffic areas. This practical foundation is layered with a giant leather sectional, another incredibly easy-to-clean piece that has heroically withstood juice spills and finger paint over the years. It’s a space designed for genuine fun and minimal stress, embodying durability and style.
Modern Living, Uniquely Lived-In
Perhaps the most captivating aspect of Emily and Todd’s white and modern home is how beautifully it serves as a canvas for pops of color and playful, lived-in touches. Take the back of their metal front door, for instance. Its magnetic surface has been transformed into a dynamic display area for children’s artwork, cherished photos, animal and letter magnets, and other delightful odds and ends. We adore its casual, fun nature, and our own kids, Clara and Emanuel, are always drawn to playing there whenever we visit. It’s a wonderful example of how a seemingly simple feature can become a central point for family interaction and creativity.
It’s easy to assume that modern homes with abundant white might struggle to feel “lived-in” or genuinely kid-friendly. However, Emily and Todd’s residence stands as a brilliant counter-example, demonstrating that such spaces can be both stunning and perfectly functional for a bustling family. Upon closer inspection, their design incorporates truly smart choices applicable to any home style: weathered wood furnishings that naturally camouflage wear, wipeable fabrics that simplify maintenance, and gorgeous light fixtures strategically placed out of reach. Add to this some truly innovative functional upgrades, such as built-in niches above closets and a brilliant pull-out double-sided pantry, and you have a recipe for lasting comfort and style.
A huge thank you goes out to Emily, Todd, Jake, Olivia, Emanuel, and their beloved dog, Tuck, for opening their wonderful home to us and letting us capture its evolving beauty. Now, for the favorite part game! Mine would have to be the front door – both its cheerful green exterior and the fun, magnetic interior – alongside Olivia’s brightly striped curtains. John, ever the admirer of sleek design, always lovingly runs his hands over their pristine white appliances. True story!